Union Square Breakfast Options

Yes, you could hit the Starbucks in the lobby for a coffee & pastry but there's some really nice options available if you're will to leave the hotel. Here's some of my recommendations...

Boudin Bakery is just down the block and is a good option for a quick breakfast.

Bar Norcini & Emporio Rulli are more Italian style with quality espresso drinks and pastry offerings.

Dottie's True Blue is a local diner favorite. Both Cafe Mason, Max's Deli and Tad's are good "full breakfast" options.

Cafe Encore, Cafe La Taza and Summer Deli & Bakery are good quick "to go" options.

The Sentinel is further away but is a local foodie favorite for breakfast & lunch.

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Killer Coffee

San Francisco has some seriously obsessed coffee connoisseurs on both sides of the counter. If you'd like to make a pilgrimage to one of the best of the best, here's the 411:


Blue Bottle - My personal favorite. They have three locations: 66 Mint is a full cafe and a Japanese siphon bar for making amazing coffee; Linden Alley is a kiosk with a few baked goods serving the denizens of Hayes Valley (including myself); and at the Ferry Bldg there are coffee carts on Tuesdays & Saturdays for farmer market shoppers. If you can't make it to any of these locations, keep your eye out as more and more restaurants are serving Blue Bottle coffee - Piccino, for example, serves Blue Bottle and they are skilled enough make stunning espresso drinks and nice foam art.

Ritual Roaster - a beloved Mission spot with espresso drinks the Italian way.

Four Barrel - new venture from one of the co-founders of Ritual, it can be an adventure to find but they have Stumptown beans for you junkies who need a fix.

Philz Coffee - no espresso drinks, just a perfect drip coffee, brewed literally one cup at a time...for the past 35 years!

Caffe Trieste - not part of San Francisco coffee's New Wave, this North Beach cafe is the grandfather of them all!

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To learn more than you can imagine can be written about the coffee scene, check out Man Seeking Coffee blog.